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Friday, January 16, 2009

Tongkungon oh tongkungon...

2009 sudah mari...Happy New Year!

Tongkungon..reminds me of my grandparents...they used to play this instrument while we were gathering at their house during childhood, sitting beside the 'ropuhan' ( fireplace) and watch them play while waiting for meals to be served...
I still remembered when I was questioning my dad.." Pa, apaini?" ( time belum pandai dusun language). " Tongkungon", my dad took it and played.." Gitar ka Pa? Lain juga...", I said with mischievous face. My Bapa senyum2 saja sambil concentrate main..ting tong ting tong ting ting tonggg.........sounds like a music with a bunch of gongs..
It makes me think..how proud I am to be a Dusun..:)


"The Tongkungon is a tube zither made entirely of large poring bamboo. A whole section of bamboo is taken and four to eight strips of the skin carefully undercut along the length of the bamboo between the nodes to form the string. Small pieces of cane or wood are placed under the strings at each end to alter their lengths and pitches. The names of the strings and the sound intervals between their pitches correspond to the Gongs in the ensembles of their respective communities. People often play the Tongkungon alone for personal relaxation or entertainment. It is also used to accompany dancing and is popular among the Kadazandusun community of Sabah."


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